An Orphanage based on growth through music

Musica Para Salvar Vidas is running an orphanage that is based on learning and development through music. Music and dance are integrated into the daily lives of the children due to their therapeutic nature and to allow for the development of talents that can be used for professional or personal reasons throughout their lives.

The discipline required to practice and perform music and dance, along with the physical force required for each movement, has proven to be an excellent way for the children to work through the frustration they hold inside.  The melodies that the children learn accompany them in their moments of loneliness and as they work through the traumas of their past.  In this way, music and dance have succeeded in allowing the orphans at our home to fully embrace the love and community that we offer and move on from their pasts of abandonment, violence, and despair.

Most importantly, a focus on love and caring

Before coming to the orphanage, many of these children had not had much love or support in their lives. Many didn’t know what it was like to receive a hug or kiss, or have a face-to-face conversation. They didn’t know how to communicate and didn’t know the value of their own thoughts and ideas.  This love and support is transforming the children at the orphanage to have more confidence in themselves and consequently work with others in a more positive and constructive way.  This emotional growth will likely be the most important tool that they will take with them into society when they leave the orphanage.  Their lives and future relationships, including with partners, children, co-workers and neighbours, will be shaped for the better.

Daily Life

After completing their schoolwork each day, the 26 children who currently live in the house have singing classes each day of the week and dance classes on weekends. 

In addition to their responsibilities in school and music classes, the children take on responsibility in the house. The teenagers support the younger ones in their daily routines and often fill a brotherly or sisterly role. Each child is also in charge of at least one chore in the house.

There are six adults who live in the house and support the children through various roles:

Jingo George, Kayira Grace y Kagwa Noel are the three music teachers who focus on music, dance and percussion.
The house mother, Nakato Joyce, cooks and cleans.
Kamoga Julius helps the children with their schoolwork every day and follows their progress at their respective schools.
Fabian Jowers is the director of the orphanage and works on coordination and administrative tasks.

The orphanage is in a house we rented on Kaweesa Road , Kamuli ‘C’ Zone, Kireka, Kampala ( Uganda ).